Blue Crab Steamed Blue Crabs With Old Bay

Published Feb 04, 2020 Updated Aug 28, 2024

Maryland Blue Crab

Blue crab is one of my favorite crustacean; the others are snow crab, king crab, Dungeness crab, lobster tail, and fresh water prawn. I also love crab legs and crawfish boil. My appreciation for seafood isn’t limited to crustaceans; I also enjoy clams. The crab is native to the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and through the Gulf of Mexico. They are sometimes called Maryland crab and best served steamed, or can be added to New Orleans seafood boil. The meat has a sweet and briny flavor and tastes absolutely delicious.

When Is Blue Crab Season

The most popular blue crabs come from The Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia. The peak season is from April to mid December in 2020. Blue crabs are also found and harvested in Nova Scotia, Canada, Florida and the Gulf coasts.

How To Cook Blue Crab

I have the best blue crab recipe for you: steamed blue crab with Old Bay Seasoning. It’s so easy to make at home. First, I cleaned the crabs by rinsing with cold water. Next, I killed them by sticking a knife or chopstick at the back of the crab. To cook the crab, I heated up a steamer with water and seasoned the crabs with Old Bay Seasoning. Steam for 20 minutes to 30 minutes, or until the crab shells turn completely orange.

How To Eat Blue Crab

It’s very easy to enjoy the crab meat. Below is the step-by-step eating guide:

On a flat surface lined with papers (for example: parchment paper), hold the bottom part of the crab firmly with one hand and then flip open the top shell with the other hand. Remove the gills on the crab. Snap and break the crab into halves. Remove the crab claws and crab legs from the body. Pick out the meat with a shellfish or seafood fork.

Due to its size, there are not much meat inside the crab legs.

What To Serve With This Recipe

Serve this dish with side dishes or other seafood dishes. For a New England style seafood fest, I recommend the following recipes. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.